· At Christmas Circle traffic roundabout, follow east exit to county S-22. Follow road (name changes to Pegleg Road then to Borrego Salton Seaway) about 10 miles to Font’s Point entrance.

Return trip via Ramona

· Return to Route 78 and follow signs to Ramona. Continue on Route 78 to Escondido and I-15.

A fair number of San Diegans have invested in all-wheel drive systems for their cars and SUVs. And we have just the run to validate that expense.

Our destination was Font’s Point in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a two-hour drive over the mountains in the northeastern corner of San Diego County. The route included some engaging mountain roads and on the way back we loaded up on locally grown goodies.

We drove Chevy’s highly regarded small SUV, the Equinox, $36,710 as tested. With the optional V-6 engine and all-wheel drive, the handling was good for an SUV; taking it easy on the curves meant everything was always under control.

The most challenging part of the drive is getting there and getting home. The off-roading is not demanding.

Heading out, we took Interstate 8 east to Descanso, following state Route 79 north through Cuyamaca to Julian, then down Banner Grade to the desert.

Font’s Point is an overlook of the rugged Borrego Badlands about 10 miles east of the town of Borrego Springs on county Highway S22. The Borrego Badlands are several square miles where centuries of wind and water have carved out the bottom of what was once an inland sea. The spectacular vista overlooks what has been described as a miniature Grand Canyon.

Font’s Point is named for Father Pedro Font, the chaplain and scribe for Juan Bautista de Anza’s 1774-75 expedition across California to find a route to the Spanish settlements on the coast. Accounts say Font described the point as the “sweepings of the earth.” It was named for Font in the 1930s by a local developer.

At the west end of Palm Canyon Road, the main drag through Borrego Springs, is the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park visitor’s center. Friendly rangers and volunteers can help you with maps and information on where to find the best flower viewing and updates on road conditions.

Getting to Font’s Point, as they say, is half the fun. The four miles from S22 south to the parking area at the point are mostly sand – packed and loose. No rocks to climb here if you’re careful and stick, as you should, to the road.

The Equinox was swift and sure-footed, even on loose sand. Chevrolet uses an on-demand AWD system that, when it senses slip on the front wheels, sends power to the rear pair.